The Hexagon of Local Economic Development

The Hexagon is a framework to organise LED training events. It organises the key issues in territorial development around six triangles. Moreover, it is the basis of a number of formats for quick workshops to clarify local stakeholders' perspective at LED.

The Hexagon is the sum of six triangles:

  1. The target group of LED: Local firms, start-ups, and external investors
  2. Locational factors: Tangible factors, intangible factors relevant for firms and for individuals
  3. Synergy: The relationship between economic development, urban / spatial planning and social development
  4. Sustainability: Combining economic, ecological and social development
  5. Governance: The relationship between the public sector, the private sector, and local communities
  6. Process: LED as an iterative process of analysis, action and adjustment

Additional resources

Read more on the Hexagon

Mesopartner Working Paper 03 - The Hexagon of Local 
Economic Development

Mesopartner Working Paper 05 - The Hexagon of Local Economic 
Development and LED in South Africa

Mesopartner Working Paper 15 - Revisiting the Hexagon of LED as a framework to strengthen LED initiatives